Business & Tech

Casino Developer Needs to Decide 'Very Soon' Whether to Pursue Danvers Slots

The state Gaming Commission plans to hear from casino developers "very soon" whether they plan to pursue a slots parlor or casino and where they plan to put it.

The two casino developers that have not specified whether they plan a resort casino or slot parlor need to tell the state Gaming Commission “very soon” if they plan to pursue a slots parlor permit.

That’s according to the spokeswoman for the Gaming Commission, who said the commission has prioritized the permitting processing for a slots parlor and plans to grant the state’s sole license by the end of 2013.

Elaine Driscoll, the spokeswoman, made the comments on Tuesday after the Boston Globe’s report that PPE Casino Resorts MA, LLC is looking at the possibility of locating 1,200 slots in a 100,000 square foot parlor at Liberty Tree Mall.

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PPE is one of the two applicants that met last week's deadline to submit a deposit to the state Gaming Commission but did not say which license they are seeking or where they plan to build it.

Both companies submitted the required $400,000 deposit but were not required to unveil any further specifics. Nine other applicants have discussed their plans extensively but PPE and Massachusetts Gaming & Entertainment LLC both have unveiled very little about their plans.

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The Globe on Monday reported that PPE has mae inquiries with Danvers officials about the possibility of a 24-hour slots parlor at the mall.

If the Danvers plan were to move forward, PPE would have to reach a “host agreement” with Danvers that would be approved by voters at the polls, Driscoll said.

Town Clerk Joe Collins, who runs elections in the town, said he only knew what he read in the Globe story. No plans are underway for a town election.

Both PPE and Simon Property Group, which owns the mall, were reserved in their comments on Tuesday. Neither revealed any more about the possible plans.

Les Morris, Director of Public Relations for Simon Property Group, said Simon Property Group does not comment on leasing negotiations at Simon Malls. On Monday, Morris told the Globe that while Simon does not comment on negotiations, he had not heard anything about the slots proposal.

At PPE in Maryland, spokeswoman Carmen Gonzales said that no further announcement has been made by the company beyond a statement released last week after the company submitted its deposit to state regulators.


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